HISTORY
The Edgecumbe Choir arose out of the choir of St David’s Presbyterian Church in Edgecumbe, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, which was formed in the late 1940s.  This was a church choir with eight or so members conducted by Kath Armstrong.  In the 1950s Ken Macdonald, a local farmer, became the conductor and was instrumental in the formation of the Edgecumbe Choir in 1957, which though it still sings religious music is not affiliated to any religion or denomination.  For nearly thirty years Ken Macdonald built the Choir up into one that drew members from all over the eastern Bay of Plenty and was of sufficient stature to be invited in 1985 to join other choirs in Papakura, Napier and at the Auckland Town Hall.


Ken Macdonald


The late Valerie Milne

  

On Ken’s retirement in that same year, the baton was taken up by Valerie Milne.  Valerie who had been a long-serving choir member brought her considerable musical knowledge and skill to the leadership of the Choir.  One highlight was the involvement of the Edgecumbe Choir in the opening concert for the Aotea Centre, Auckland, in September 1990.  Valerie’s death in 1997 was a sad blow to the Choir for which she had worked tirelessly further enhancing its reputation.  It is this status that ensures that the Edgecumbe Choir has no difficulty in attracting from around the country soloists and accompanists of high calibre.
Since that time the Choir has been fortunate to be able to obtain the services of a number of guest conductors including Rita Paczian, formerly of Auckland, now resident in Queensland.  These conductors have presented a varied repertoire and the Choir has learned from their knowledge and different conducting styles.  In August 2002 the Choir appointed Mr Tony Hogg as its Musical Director.  He is now into his second two-year contract.


Tony Hogg
Until recently the Choir maintained its direct link with Edgecumbe by rehearsing at St David’s Church, but in 2000, as the bulk of its members came from Whakatane, rehearsals were moved there.  Despite this it was decided to retain the name.  Over the years, choir members have come from as far afield as Opotiki, Galatea and Te Puke, as well as the Rangitaiki Plains, Kawerau and Whakatane. A few of the original members are still active in the Choir.

In addition to biannual social functions, the Choir’s activities in the new millennium have included:

 

  • September & October 2000 - A series of New Zealand Choral Federation - Bay of Plenty Millennium Concerts conducted by Rita Paczian in which the Edgecumbe Choir joined choirs from Rotorua, Taupo and Tauranga to present The Creation by Joseph Haydn in those three centres as well as Whakatane;
  • December 2000 - Carol singing at the Christmas Parade;
  • January 2001 - Benefit concert for local singer Sian Jakes;
  • June/July 2001 - Classic Gems concert featuring Fauré’s Requiem, plus works by Mendelssohn and Verdi;
  • September 2001 - Training weekend with Rita Paczian followed by the ‘With Spirit!’ concert of spirituals and songs.  These last two concerts have attracted full houses.
  • November 2001- The Choir provided the chorus for a StageFright production of the one-act opera Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti.
  • February 2002 - Workshop with internationally renowned choral director Mike Brewer as part of the Summer Arts Festival.
  • July 2002 - Mendelssohn’s oratorio Elijah with guest soloists including leading NZ baritone, David Griffiths, and the Auckland City Organist, John Wells, as well as a children’s choir from St Joseph’s School, Whakatane.

Mike Brewer leading workshop 2002
  • November/December 2002 - Christmas Crackers concert of seasonal music with Tasman Eastern Bay of Plenty Brass.
  • February 2003 - Singing workshop for men Beyond the Bathroom with John Rosser of Auckland as part of the Summer Arts Festival.
  • June 2003 - Let’s Magnify including Bach, Bruckner, Purcell, Vaughan Williams and Vivaldi, with trumpeters Maurice and Peter Reid.
  • August 2003 – Music reading course with Gillian Chapman.
  • October 2003 - Workshop with English choral conductor, Janet Lincé.
  • December 2003 - A Night at the Proms:  The Choir combined with the Whakatane Community Orchestra, Tasman EBOP Brass and Mosaic to entertain over 900 people in festive mood.
  • March 2004 – Recording for TVNZ programme Praise Be.
  • May 2004 – Handel’s Messiah with soloists and orchestra.
  • September 2004 – Winner of the Arts Section of the Whakatane District AAA Awards.
  • September 2004 – Animal Antics, a concert on animal themes, including Captain Noah and His Floating Zoo by Flanders and Horowitz.
  • December 2004 – Carol singing in the street at the Christmas Parade in Whakatane.
  • February 2005 – A full day workshop Singing Together with James Tibbles of the University of Auckland.


Messiah 2004